Solar or dehumidification kiln?

Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article





	Today's Sponsors: Amana Tool Ameitech South American Fabric Filter Co. American Institute of Building Design American National Woodworking Knife American Rotary Converters Anchorbeam Timberworks Andreou Machinery ANEST IWATA USA, Inc. Antique Building Materials Anver Corporation Apollo Sprayers Inc. Arbor Processing Inc. Architectural Elements Arkansas Wood Doors ArtCam ATEMAG Atlantic Machinery Corp. Auton Motorized Systems AWFS B.H. Davis Company Bailey's Inc. Bainbridge Manufacturing Baker Products Banks Hardwoods Barbo Machinery Barn Detail Barn Door Lumber BC Wood Specialties Group Beautiful WoodForest Products Beaver Tools Benz Incorporated Berenson Hardware Best Cabinets BetterVacuumcups.com Biesse Group America Binks Black Bros. Co. Blackhawk Machinery Brazilian Direct Ltd. Brown Wood Products Co. Burgess Edge Byrd Tool C.R. Onsrud Cab Parts Cabinet Door Service Co. Cabinet Pro CabinetCRUNCHER Cutlist & 3D Cabinet Design Software Cabinetmakers Association CABPARTSPRO CAD CAM for the Home and Small Shop CADCode Cag Lumber Camco, Inc. Carbide.com Carolina Woodworking Consultants Carter Products Carvewright Carving Technologies Cash Coatings Castle Catskill Timber Industries Central Hardwoods Charles G.G. Schmidt Co. Chicago Dowel Company, Inc. 3M Corporation AARK Companies Abrasive Resource Accu-Router, Inc. AceCo Precision Wood Tooling ACIMALL Active Machine & Tool Air Cleaning Systems Air Handling Systems Aktrin Furniture Information Center Alan McIlvain Company Algoma Lumber Co. All Star Adhesives Alliance Millsoft Allied Machinery Inc. AllMachineryRepair.com AllRout

WOODWEB DISCLAIMS any and all RESPONSIBILITY and LIABILITY for the accuracy and application of the information below. Readers agree to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided, and accept full responsibility for the application of this information. Read More ...

Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?

Solar or dehumidification kiln? A discussion of the merits of two types of kilns for lumber processing. March 12, 2000

Q.
I have a Woodmizer sawmill and would like to add a kiln. Have looked at both solar and dehumidification (DH) systems, but cannot make up my mind. Anyone have any suggestions?

I have a Lumbermate mill and set up an EBAC ld800 DH kiln. Very good results drying 800 to 1000 board feet per load, in 30 to 45 days. Picked DH for better control of the process.

Do you want dried lumber and cash flow in the cool and cold winter months? If so, DH. I suggest that anyone over 10,000 BF per year is certainly in line for a non-solar kiln.
Gene Wengert, forum moderator

With the EBAC DH unit my utility cost has increased $30 to $50 in the months I have had the dryer running. I have a separate meter for my garage and shop so this is a reasonable estimate.

I have a 2,000 bd ft. DH kiln we built ourselves.

Simple construction materials, purchased at local lumberyard. Kiln measures 16 ft. long, 7 ft. high, 12 ft. deep. Operated on 120 volts, it costs about $1.50 per day to run. We air dry to 12 percent (4\4), then it takes about three to four weeks @ 110 degrees for full cure.

For poplar and oak, we add an electric heater to bring the lumber to 150 degrees for a couple of hours. This kills any varmits. We then allow the temp to drop back to 110 (the dehumidifier generates its own heat).

Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?

KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Kiln Construction

KnowledgeBase: Primary Processing: Kiln Operation

KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to review our Forum Guidelines.

Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

Return to beginning of article.

Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy

Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

Copyright © 1996-2008 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

WOODWEB, Inc.
RR4 Box 265A
Montrose, PA 18801

Contact WOODWEB